Ryan Seacrest gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his first day as the new host of Wheel of Fortune.
Though Seacrest, 49, has been fairly tight-lipped about his new role — the TV personality was announced as Pat Sajak's replacement in June 2023 — his sheer excitement shone through like laser beams in Seacrest's Tuesday, July 16 Instagram upload.
"A glimpse of my first day at @wheeloffortune, and I'm still spinning with excitement!" the longtime American Idol host captioned the footage, which saw Seacrest take in the full set — including the world-famous wheel — for the first time.
"My heart's pounding, I'm so excited," Seacrest gushed as he walked into the studio. "You know, I could not sleep last night I was so excited. I slept OK, but still very excited for the alarm to go off."
Upon setting his eyes on the wheel, the On Air With Ryan Seacrest host, who is 5'8, told the camera that the wheel "may be smaller than you think," before quipping: "As am I."
Seacrest made another joke about his size while paying tribute to Sajak, who retired from Wheel last month after helming the show since 1981. (In a retirement surprise, it was announced that Sajak, 77, will go on to host Celebrity Wheel of Fortune for the show's upcoming season.)
Approaching a cardboard cutout of Sajak and puzzle board icon Vanna White — along with a whole display of other Wheel memorabilia — Seacrest sized himself up against Sajak's figure.
"Who's taller?" Seacrest asked the camera good-naturedly. "He is. Shocker!"
At one point, the video cut to Seacrest behind the wheel in full contestant mode.
"Big money, big money, big money, big money!" he chanted, clapping his hands while yelling out the iconic phrase. He landed on a $700 wedge.
"Listen to the sound of this wheel, right? Iconic," Seacrest said in the clip, his ear to the wheel and his eyes closed, as if he were listening to ocean waves. "I find it soothing."
In June 2023, following Sajak's retirement announcement and the revelation that he'd be taking over the role of Wheel of Fortune host, Seacrest said in a statement that he was "truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak."
"Pat, I love the way you've always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition," the Live With Kelly and Ryan alum added. "I can't wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White."
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